Open Gardens Victoria - Eden Rise

Nestled in Woolamai’s rolling Bass Hills, Eden Rise has stunning views out to Western Port Bay, French Island, and Phillip Island. Daphne and Joe Proietto have spent the past 13 years transforming grassy paddocks into a stunning five-acre garden.

“The first thing we did was remove the many internal paddock fences” says Joe. “And then obtained a Landcare grant for 1000 trees, all of which are indigenous to the area. We planted these trees to create a wide perimeter border.”

The planting of the 80-tree orchard came next, with olives and a wide range of fruit and nut trees going in.

With a degree in botany and a diploma in horticulture, Daphne and Joe’s eldest daughter, Claire
was responsible for selecting most of the plants in the garden, including a multitude of flowering Australian natives such as kangaroo paws, banksias, bottlebrushes, and the tufted perennial grass Themeda trianda, all of which attract a variety of wildlife, especially beautiful birds. 

A sculpture garden adds another dimension, along with a walled vegetable garden and chicken coop with a large run. The children’s play area includes a shallow wading pool, a sand pit, a hill designed especially for rolling down and a giant outdoor chess set.

Visitors will discover a garden in springtime bloom with natives, succulents, and fruit trees in flower.